Written Answers

Friday 8 June 2001

Scottish Executive

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review its slaughter policy in relation to rare breeds, animal sanctuaries, pets and other animals which show no signs of the foot-and-mouth virus following repeated testing and which are not destined for export.

Ross Finnie: From the start, provision has been made for some recognised rare animal breeds where bio-security can be adequately maintained. For all other cases the Executive has recently reviewed its policy on the contiguous cull of cattle and the 3km sheep cull. Infected premises and sheep and pigs on contiguous premises will continue to be culled. Any other disease control measures applied will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Gas Safety

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it has given to public housing agencies with regard to protection for tenants from carbon monoxide.

Malcolm Chisholm: I refer to the answers given to questions S1W-15523 and S1W-15524. The Health and Safety Executive publish several leaflets on gas safety, including carbon monoxide risks. One of these leaflets is aimed at landlords to advise them that gas safety law requires them to maintain all gas appliances and flues they provide for tenants’ use and to ensure that they are checked for safety each year by a CORGI registered installer.

Justice

Mr Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the reports by Sir Anthony Campbell and Dr Raj Jandoo on the Chhokar case will be completed and published.

Colin Boyd QC: As I have always made clear, the timing of these reports is a matter for Sir Anthony and Dr Jandoo. I understand that both are working on their final reports and that these will be submitted to me as early as possible. Dr Jandoo has written to me to explain that he has only recently been able to complete his evidence taking, and that the task of drawing together all the evidence – including that provided by over 60 witnesses – and reaching conclusions will take some weeks to complete. Neither the Justice Minister nor I are aware of any emerging findings at this stage.

  Both reports will then be translated into Punjabi before publication.

Prison Service

Ben Wallace (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the powers of prison governors as a result of the incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights legislation into Scottish law.

Mr Jim Wallace: The system of discipline in Scottish penal establishments has already been reviewed by the Scottish Executive in the light of the incorporation into Scottish law of the European Convention on Human Rights. That review included consideration of the powers of Prison Governors in relation to disciplinary proceedings against prisoners.

  Ministers have subsequently been advised that it is possible that the imposition by Governors of additional days as a disciplinary punishment could be challenged under the European Convention on Human Rights. In order to minimise that risk, with the disruption to the operational stability of penal establishments that any successful challenge could cause, it has been decided that with effect from 11 June the awarding by Prison Governors of additional days or loss of remission as punishments for prisoners infringing prison rules will be suspended. Punishments made before that date will remain in force; but Governors have been instructed that from 11 June they are not to make any new awards of these punishments.

  The disciplinary situation in the prisons estate will be kept under review following this decision. However, the full range of other disciplinary punishments that currently exist, such as loss of privileges and cellular confinement, will continue to be available to Governors, and it is believed that these are sufficient to allow the satisfactory maintenance of discipline in penal establishments. Where serious criminal behaviour is involved, Governors will also continue as at present to be able to refer the matter to the police for possible criminal charges.

Special Educational Needs

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, prior to coming to a decision on the issue of grant aided funding. it will ask the Special Educational Needs Forum to consider the future funding of the seven grant aided schools for children with severe low incidence disabilities.

Nicol Stephen: Scottish Ministers are considering the future funding arrangements for the seven grant-aided schools. In the meantime, we have given a commitment to continue the current grant aid arrangements until March 2003. I have met representatives from the seven schools and I hope to complete a programme of visits to all the schools shortly. An announcement on future funding arrangements beyond March 2003 will be made in due course.

Telecommunications

Paul Martin (Glasgow Springburn) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make available the report prepared for Scottish Enterprise on pricing of telecommunications services in cities referred to by the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning in her evidence to the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee on 7 February 2001.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The report prepared by T Soja and Associates has been placed in the Parliament Reference Centre with an accompanying statement from Scottish Enterprise which sets out the background to commissioning of the report and summarises its findings.

Youth Crime

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how implementation of the recommendations of the Youth Crime Review Advisory Group is being monitored for effectiveness across Scotland.

Nicol Stephen: All councils have been asked to carry out an audit of local needs to identify the range of challenging programmes required in their area. These programmes should have in-built monitoring to allow for evaluation of their effectiveness. The first formal reports on progress achieved are required by March 2002. Ministers will be seeking interim reports on the programmes and their targets before this. The Executive will also undertake its own evaluation of the effectiveness of the measures being introduced.

  Following are statistics on parliamentary questions and answers for the period from 30/04/2001 to 25/05/2001

  


 


Scottish Executive


Presiding Officer


Total




Total questions asked


520


7


527




Total questions answered


860


12


869




  


Total non-recess 
  questions answered (breakdown)




Answered within:


Scottish Executive


Presiding Officer




0-14 days


362


5




2-4 weeks


108


1




4-6 weeks


56


1




6-8 weeks


39


0




8 weeks and over


84


0




Total answered


649


7




  


Total recess 
  questions answered (breakdown)




Answered within:


Scottish Executive


Presiding Officer




0-21 days


175


5




3-5 weeks


21


0




5-7 weeks


5


0




7-9 weeks


0


0




9 weeks and over


8


0




Total answered


209


5